Power Point Tracking

Abstract

An maximum power point tracking unit used in a solar cell power system can find maximum power point more efficiently.

1 . A method to optimize maximum power point tracking efficiency of a photovoltaic module-based power system, comprising:
 measuring ambient temperature and irradiance conditions proximate to the photovoltaic module-based power system, wherein the photovoltaic module-based power system comprises at least one operating parameter; and   determining a maximum power point based on the at least one operating parameter of the photovoltaic module and the temperature and irradiance conditions, wherein the maximum power point is capable of being determined without adjusting the DC voltage to search for the maximum power point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter comprises an optimal DC operating voltage that is a function of temperature and irradiance. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising collecting and sending temperature and irradiance measurement data to a power network operation center by a data collecting system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing temperature and irradiance measurement data in a database. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using an existing environmental temperature and irradiance database to determine the maximum power point. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a set of known operating data about the modules to determine the maximum power point. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 measuring the operating point of the photovoltaic module-based power system by a power meter, as the power system continues operating;   measuring real time temperature and irradiance conditions of the photovoltaic module-based power system;   correlating the operating parameters of the photovoltaic module to temperature and irradiance conditions to determine the maximum power point; and   adjusting the operating point of the photovoltaic module-based power system to the maximum power point instantaneously.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the data collecting system comprises:
 a photovoltaic module temperature sensor;   an ambient irradiance sensor;   a remote terminal unit connecting to the sensors, converting sensor signals to digital data and sending digital data to the power network operation center; and   a human-machine interface connecting to the remote terminal unit.   
     
     
         9 . A maximum power point tracking device of a photovoltaic module-based power system comprising:
 a temperature sensor;   an irradiance sensor;   a power meter measuring the operating point of the photovoltaic module-based power system, as the power system continues operating;   a data module storing a set of known module operating data, wherein the operating data comprise a set of optimal DC operating voltages defined as a function of temperature and irradiance;   an analysis module to determine the maximum power point based on a measured temperature, a measured irradiance, and known module operating data; and   a control module adjusting the operating point of the photovoltaic module-based power system to the maximum power point by optimizing the DC operating voltage.   
     
     
         10 . The maximum power point tracking device of  claim 9 , further comprising a data collecting system to collect and send temperature and irradiance measurement data to a power network operation center. 
     
     
         11 . The maximum power point tracking device of  claim 9 , further comprising a database to store temperature and irradiance measurement data. 
     
     
         12 . The maximum power point tracking device of  claim 9 , further comprising an existing environmental temperature and irradiance database to determine the maximum power point. 
     
     
         13 . The maximum power point tracking device of  claim 10 , wherein the data collecting system comprises:
 a remote terminal unit connecting to the sensors, converting sensor signals to digital data and sending digital data to the power network operation center; and   a human-machine interface connecting to the remote terminal unit.   
     
     
         14 . A photovoltaic module-based power system comprising:
 a photovoltaic array having a DC operating point and a set of operating parameters, including a DC operating voltage; and   a maximum power point tracking unit electrically connected to the photovoltaic array comprising:
 a temperature sensor; 
 an irradiance sensor; 
 a power meter measuring the DC operating point of the photovoltaic module-based power system, as the power system continues operating; 
 a data module storing a set of known module operating data, wherein the operating data comprise a set of optimal DC operating voltages defined as a function of temperature and irradiance; 
 an analysis module to determine the maximum power point based on a measured temperature, a measured irradiance, and known module operating data; and 
 a control module adjusting the DC operating point of the photovoltaic module-based power system to the maximum power point. 
   
     
     
         15 . The photovoltaic module-based power system of  claim 14 , further comprising a data collecting system to collect and send temperature and irradiance measurement data to a power network operation center. 
     
     
         16 . The photovoltaic module-based power system of  claim 14 , further comprising a database to store temperature and irradiance measurement data. 
     
     
         17 . The photovoltaic module-based power system of  claim 14 , further comprising an existing environmental temperature and irradiance database to determine the maximum power point. 
     
     
         18 . The photovoltaic module-based power system of  claim 14 , wherein the data collecting system comprises:
 a remote terminal unit connecting to the sensors, converting sensor signals to digital data and sending digital data to the power network operation center; and   a human-machine interface connecting to the remote terminal unit.